Ashlee Bratton Photography

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One of my favorite moments shooting a wedding is stealing the bride & groom away from the masses for just a few minutes right after the ceremony when smiles are genuine and love is in the air. As a guest attendee I completely understand that this can be fairly annoying because we all want to get on with the cocktails, congratulations and the rest of the celebration. However, in the wedding photographer world these moments are priceless.

This is what as a photographer we get paid to do. Couples hire me to capture the day and in particular to create and capture these exact moments. I am paid to sneak them away from all the cell phones and ipads aimed in their direction and to professionally capture those moments of joy as they have eyes only for each other–and there is no joy as raw as right after wedding vows have been spoken and the deal is sealed in a kiss. The moments I capture will go on the wall, will come out on anniversaries, and will be put into albums and memory books for years to come…and that is an honor and an awesome responsibility.

Sneaking Off

Sneaking Off

This particular couple said their I-do’s on a bridge over a spillway waterfall at Big Meadows in Southern Colorado in a private elopement ceremony with just eight attendees. The hugs and nerves of excitement were genuine and this adorable couple were as good as it gets. Even though their were just a few friends and family there I still pulled them away under the bridge to take a few moments to kiss and snuggle behind some boulders to capture their mountain wedding. As we snuck away the groom grabbed the bride’s hand and the breeze swept her dress in a way that only nature can playfully do. These are the moments that make me smile.

It’s easy to capture romance on an engagement shoot. It’s not so easy to do the same on a family portrait session with oodles of wee ones running about, however, challenge accepted. On every family portrait shoot I try … Continue reading →

You never know what’s going to happen on one’s wedding day, but one thing’s for sure. No matter what happens, you want to look out-of-this-world gorgeous. There’s just something about a bride getting ready on her wedding day that is nothing short of breathtaking. Whether it’s a large wedding ceremony or an audience of one, the bride wants to meet her groom looking stunning. Cheers to all the effort and details entailed it takes to be beautiful on wedding day!

One of my favorite elements of shooting weddings is getting to know the personalities and stories behind the couples because no two are alike. There’s also personality and stories in the very elements a couple chooses to be a part of their wedding, especially the wedding rings. It’s been fun over the years to see the rings reflect the ring bearers and hear the stories behind the bling. Some are family heirlooms, some represent cultural backgrounds and history, some express symbols of faith while others are just downright gorgeous.

The one thing I love about this particular photo is that it seems to tell its own story–while there are cracks and signs of age, the foundation circle is still unbroken and the rings remain beautifully at the center. I wish the wearers of these rings and the many others I’ve had the honor of shooting the same in the journeys before them.

There’s a lot of tales behind this old barn. Part of the Million Ranch, my grandma has stories of growing up playing in the haystacks, raising her pet lamb that drank from a baby bottle, and avoiding the meat shed. The current owners of this property made a gallant decision years ago to preserve this old barn and its history, giving it supports and a new roof.

My family got a chance to take a tour of the ranch and this beautiful barn the weekend we were all together celebrating my Ginnymom’s memorial. Seeing my niece and nephew take turns swinging on the gate and overhearing my mom and my aunti swap tales of visiting this place as little girls and playing in the fields is something to be treasured. It’s nice to be able to take a moment and remember history. This old barn has plenty memories and of secrets. I wonder what these barn walls would say if they could talk.